Shoe-maker s bench



(No Model.) I

G. W. LUDLOW. SHOE MAKERS BENGH.

No. 446,135. Patented Feb. 10,1891;

n4: warns Farms 00., mow-mum, wunma'rou, a. c.

NITE STATE ATENT FFICE.

GEORGE IV. LUDLOIV, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHOE-MAKERS BENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,135, dated February10, 1891.

Application filed July 3, 1890- Serial No. 357,604. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. LUDLow, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Shoe-Makers Benches; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved bench or table for use in themanufacture of shoes or in shoe-factories. Heretofore workmen whoperform the operations of lasting, heelfire, and, in fact, many fires inshoe-factories have occurred from this cause. Another serious objectionto the use of such wooden tables or benches arises from the generaldanger from fire arising from the combustible nature of the table orbench itself and the combustible waste materials and refuse whichcommonly accumulate under or about such benches or tables in factories.Such wooden tables or benches are further objectionable as afiordingnumerous places of refuge for roaches and other vermin which are likelyto infest shoe-factories, and by reason of affording a much larger spacethan is necessary for the actual use of the individual workmen, so thatthey invite the accumulation of tools and loose articles and completedwork or finished shoes, which often become scratched or injured by thetools, nails, or other articles on the work-tables by being placed onthe said tables instead of being placed on the racks or otherreceptacles especially provided to receive them.

A table or bench embodying my invention consists of a flat horizontalplate of metal of proper size to hold the tools used by single workmenand supported from the floor by a metal standard or legs, the tablebeing of suitable height for aworkman when standing on his feet. Suchmetal bench or table will preferably be provided with means forattaching a shoe-makers jack, and will have a raised edge or marginalflange to prevent the tools and other articles from falling from theedges thereof. For a table to be used by burnishers or other workmenrequiring a heating device for their tools the table is provided with anaperture, beneath which the burner may be placed, and preferably with agrating covering the aperture and tool supports or rests adjacent tosaid aperture. The table is also preferably provided with one or morearms or brackets having rings or sockets to receive and hold pots ofblacking, paste, or other articles used by shoe-makers.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a shoe-makers stand or table embodying the same. Fig.2 is a plan view of a stand or table. Fig. 3 is a detail sectionthereof, taken upon line 3 3 of Fig. 2. V

As shown in said drawings, A indicates a horizontal flat top plate ofthe table or stand, the same being made of metal, and preferably ofcast-iron.

B is a single central post or standard for supporting the top plate, thesame consisting, as herein shown, of a piece of tube or gas-pipe securedat its upper end in a hub a on the bottom surface of the plate A andsecured at its lower end in a socket Z), forming part of a Hat base B,which rests upon the.

floor and is secured thereto by means of bolts or screws 1) 1').

While I have shown and described the support for the top plate asconsisting of a post or standard B, it will be obvious that instead ofthe single post anuinber of metal legs may be used. These beingequivalent constructions, it is not deemed necessary to illustratethelatter.

The plate A is preferably made rectangular in shape, of somewhat greaterlength than width, and is provided with a raised edge or marginal flangeA to prevent tools and other articles from falling therefrom. To thefront side of the table is secured a flat vertical plate 0, providedwith bolt or screw holes 0 c, by which the shoemakers jack or thesupporting-post therefor may be conveniently at-- tached to the table.

The dotted lines at D indicate a shoemakers jack for supporting thelast, and those at D indicate asupporting-post for such jack, said postbeing attached at its lower end to the floor and secured atits upper endagainst the plate 0 by means of bolts or screws passing through theholes 0 c in said plate. The said plate 0 may be cast integrally withthe top plate A of the table; but, as herein shown, said plate is formedby a separate piece of cast metal and is provided with a horizontalflange c, which extends beneath the table, and through which and thetable are inserted bolts 0 c for securing the said plate to the table.The plate 0 is shown as located at the front edge of the table near theleft-hand end thereof, and bolt-holes a a are shown as located near theright-hand end of the table for use in case it is desired to securethejack at that place.

The table A is provided, preferablynear its rear edge, with an opening Abeneath which is placed a gas-burner E, which is supplied by a pipe 6.The tools to be heated may be allowed to rest upon the table with theirparts which are to be heated .over the hole or opening A Preferably,however, raised supports a a are cast or otherwise secured upon theupper surface of the table at opposite sides of said opening A for thepurpose of conveniently sustaining the tools. A perforated guard .orgrating F is also preferably employed to cover the said opening Ainorder to prevent articles 011 the table from falling through the saidopening upon the burner.

G G are arms or brackets, which are shaped to form rings or sockets g gto receive pots or receptacles for blacking or paste or to hold otherarticles, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Said arms or bracketsmay be'made separate from the table and secured thereto in any suitablemanner,but, as herein shown, are cast integral with the table.

The table or stand constructed as above described is adapted for use inlasting, heelin g, trimming, finishing, burnishing, and, in fact, by allshoe-makers in a. factory other than those requiring low benches.Lasting-jacks as commonly made rest upon the top of a heavy post, andsuch post will preferably be made of iron and secured at its upper endto the table by means of the plate 0 in substantially the same manner asthe post D, which is shown in dotted lines in the drawings.

Thetable described, either when provided with a singlesupporting-standard, as shown, or when made with metal legs, has theadvantage of being entirely fire-proof, of occupyin g much less roomthan thewooden benches or tables heretofore used, and of beingentirely'free from vermin. In a shop fitted out with the metal tablesdescribed the work is greatly facilitated, for the reason that less roomis occupied by the tables, the workmen are less in the way of eachother, and an easy and quick access can be had to all parts of the room.Furthermore, the floor-space occupied by each table and the workman towhom it belongs is much less than is required in the use of long woodentables or benches, so that more workmen than heretofore may beconveniently located in the same floor-space without undue crowding.

The employment of a metal table having a single central'post orstandard, together with a horizontal base-plate which is bolted to the.floor, has the advantage of greater convenience to the workmen and offacilitating the sweeping or cleaning of the floor, and this form oftable is therefore preferred, although not essential to the carrying outof the other features of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. As an improved article of manufacture, ashoe-makers bench or table made entirely of metal and provided with aflat top plate having a raised edge orv marginal flange and provided atits edge with a vertical plate adapted for the attachment of ashoe-makers jack, and a metal standard attached to said top plate forsupporting the same.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a shoe-makers bench or tablemade entirely of metal and provided with a flat top plate having araised edge or marginal flange and provided at its edge with a verticalplate adapted for the attachment of a shoe-makers jack, said flat topplate having also a hole or aperture through which the heat from agasburner or other heating device placed below the same is adapted topass, and a metal standard attached to said top plate, snbstantially asdescribed.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a shoe-makers bench or tablemade entirely of metal and provided with a flat top plate having araised edge or marginal flange and provided at its edge with a verticalplate adapted for the attachment of a shoe-makers jack, said fiat topplate having also a hole or aperture through which the heat from agasburner or other heating device placed below the same is adapted topass, said table being provided with elevated tool-supports adjacent tosaid hole or aperture, and a metal standard attached to the said topplate for supporting In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing asmyinvention I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE YV. LUDLOV.

Witnesses:

0. CLARENCE POOLE, GEORGE W. HIGGINS, Jr.

